“The Young Lady isn’t asleep yet~”
“I-Iliana, why did you come back?”
Ilus stammered, doing her best to suppress the fear in her heart.
She was at her most vulnerable right now. If the Demon wanted to do something to her at a time like this, she wouldn’t be able to resist at all!
“To sleep with you, of course, Young Lady~”
As she spoke, Iliana pointedly displayed the quilt she was holding in her arms and gave a slight smile. Taking a hit for her wasn’t enough of a lesson; she intended to slowly encroach upon Ilus’s personal space until the girl belonged to her entirely.
“N-No, you… how can you sleep with me?”
Ilus’s eyes widened instantly. How could a servant have the right to sleep in the same bed as their master?
“Hmm… there’s nothing I can do about it, Young Lady. Madam requested it specifically. She said you’ve been unruly lately, so she ordered me to stay with you~”
‘Bullshit! It’s all lies!’ Ilus didn’t believe a word she said. If word got out that a servant was sleeping with their master, it wouldn’t do the reputation of the Duke’s House any favors.
Madam Vanessa cared so much about appearances; she would never give such an order. The Demon must have hypnotized her!
Although Ilus knew the truth better than anyone, she was completely powerless. She couldn’t stop Iliana at all, and now even her warm bed was no longer safe.
She watched helplessly as Iliana climbed onto the other side of the bed. Ilus opened her mouth to say something, but in the end, nothing came out.
After all, her backside was still aching.
Iliana’s movements were natural and fluid as she lifted the corner of the quilt and slid underneath.
The mattress sank slightly, bringing with it a rush of cool air and a faint, subtle fragrance that belonged to her.
Although the young girl had to admit the scent wasn’t unpleasant, she shuddered the moment she smelled it now, for it meant the Demon was right beside her.
“Don’t be nervous, Young Lady.”
Iliana turned onto her side, propping her head up with one hand as she stared at Ilus’s tense profile in the dim light.
“If you need anything, you can just tell me~ I will prepare it for you.”
Her tone was gentle, but it made the girl sense a hint of danger.
Ilus didn’t respond. Instead, she remained frozen in her original position, lying face down and shrinking toward the opposite edge of the bed as much as possible, trying to create even a sliver of distance.
But a double bed only offered so much space. She could clearly feel the warmth radiating from the body beside her and the gaze that felt almost physical.
The room fell back into silence, save for the faint sound of their breathing.
The glow from the wall lamp was weak, and most of the space was swallowed by darkness, making every second feel exceptionally long and agonizing.
The dull pain behind her became even clearer in the silence. Every heartbeat seemed to pull at the injured skin, bringing waves of throbbing pain.
The mental tension was even more torturous. She had no idea what Iliana would do next. This kind of unknown waiting was a form of psychological torture in itself. It seemed impossible that the Demon wouldn’t touch her during this long night.
Time passed minute by minute. Ilus’s body grew stiff and sore from maintaining the same position for so long, but she didn’t dare move, fearing that even the slightest motion would draw the attention of the person beside her.
She kept her eyes shut tight, trying to adjust her breathing and feign sleep, even though her chaotic thoughts and the pain behind her kept her wide awake.
Just as Ilus thought that the motionless Iliana might have actually fallen asleep and her mental guard began to slacken —
An arm suddenly rested gently across her waist.
Ilus’s entire body jerked violently. She nearly jumped, but due to the pain and weakness, it only manifested as a severe shudder.
“Shh…”
Iliana’s voice was right by her ear, her warm breath brushing against Ilus’s earlobe.
“Don’t move, Young Lady. How could you ever fall asleep with your body so stiff? Let me help you relax~”
That hand didn’t move any further; it simply circled her loosely. Her palm was pressed against Ilus’s waist through the thin fabric of her nightgown.
However, the sense of threat and control brought by this touch was more chilling to Ilus than direct violence.
She could feel the presence of that hand — warm, steady, and carrying a hint of unavoidable restraint.
“Relax, Young Lady.”
Iliana’s voice carried a hypnotic softness.
“There will be a cold breeze at night. You wouldn’t want to catch a cold~”
As she spoke, her hand moved from the waist, sliding down toward the girl’s lower abdomen.
Ilus bit her lower lip, her nails digging deep into her palms, using the slight sting to combat the fear and humiliation within.
She didn’t dare respond; she even made her breathing as light as possible.
Iliana seemed satisfied with her obedience and stopped talking. The room returned to a state of only breathing, but the atmosphere had changed completely.
That faint touch was like an invisible shackle, pinning Ilus firmly in place — and pinning her to a reality she couldn’t escape.
Physical fatigue and mental exhaustion finally began to take their toll. Amidst extreme tension and pain, Ilus’s willpower gradually dissolved. Her consciousness felt like it was sinking into thick jam, sliding bit by bit into the darkness.
On the edge of being half-asleep and half-awake, she vaguely felt a slight chill on her back. It seemed her red and swollen skin was exposed to the air.
She wanted to resist, but the overwhelming drowsiness made her close her eyes, ignoring everything.
Watching the sleeping girl beneath her, Iliana gently rubbed the skin that was still slightly swollen, then moved her hand up to pinch Ilus’s neck.
She applied a bit of pressure, and the sleeping girl immediately let out a pained whimper, though it wasn’t enough to wake her.
‘How should I give the Young Lady a quick end when the time comes? I’m so conflicted.’
A look of hesitation appeared on the Demon’s face. The Young Lady had to become her greatest masterpiece~
‘Suffocation… that might be a good idea~’
The process of asphyxiation truly appealed to her. Slowly depriving her of oxygen, watching the light of life fade bit by bit, seeing her consciousness sink during a futile struggle while her muscles contracted in erratic twitches and spasms… This was what she looked forward to the most. It was extremely effective against a disobedient prey like the Young Lady.
But if that was all, it seemed something was missing.
She loosened her grip slightly. Her fingers turned to gently stroke the side of Ilus’s neck and jaw, finally stopping on the girl’s slightly parted lips.
Her thumb traced that soft curve with a sort of morbid infatuation.
‘Perhaps…’
An even darker thought took shape in her mind.
Iliana rose soundlessly, her bare feet stepping onto the carpet without making a single noise.
She walked to the low cabinet by the window, opened a drawer, and took out one small bottle of Deep Purple Liquid and a slender feather pen.
Returning to the bedside, she lifted a corner of her own quilt, letting the moonlight barely illuminate Ilus’s sleeping face.
The girl’s prone position left her slightly messy white hair spread across the pillow. Her long lashes cast shallow shadows under her eyes, and her brow was slightly furrowed due to discomfort or nightmares, her lips parted for breath. It was a posture of total helplessness, a temptation waiting to be plucked.
After dipping the pen in the liquid, the tip hovered over Ilus’s exposed nape.
In her sleep, the girl seemed to instinctively sense something. Her body shrunk back slightly, her shoulder blades tightening and pulling at the lingering redness on her backside.
‘With this, the Young Lady will surely become my greatest masterpiece!’ With a malicious smile, an Incantation began to appear on Ilus’s fair, tender back…